Botanical garden,WEST LAKE,HANGZHOU,Nov.16, 2014

It is very beautiful, though SO Manny people.

Autumn

2014 Hangzhou international marathon and a little travel in west lake

the scenery of west lake in hangzhou that I have to introduce

Su Causeway in Spring Dawn

Su Causeway became a tourist attraction as early as 1090. That year, Su Dongpo, a famous poet in the Song Dynasty and the governor of Hangzhou, had the lake dredged. The silt and debris were piled up and formed into a causeway. In order to honor the poet governor, local people named the Causeway after him. Today’s causeway is the result of many refurbishing projects over centuries. Romanticized as Spring Dawn by Su Causeway, the scenery has stayed on the top of the best ten resorts around the West Lake since the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).

Su Causeway in Spring Dawn

Breeze-ruffled lotus at Quyuan garden
Quyuan Park (Crooked Courtyard) is situated near the mouth of Jinshajian Stream, the biggest natural water supply into the West Lake.
In the South Song Dynasty a royal wine workshop was set up here. In the lake next to the winery stood a large area of lotuses waggling and dancing a little bit intoxicatingly in summer breezes. Visitors felt wonderful with both the scenery and wine while aromas of lotus flowers and wine were wafting in the air. The spot got its fame as one of the top ten best attractions in that dynasty and has kept its charm in colors and odors since then.

Breeze-ruffled lotus at Quyuan garden

Orioles Singing in the Willows

Orioles Singing in the Willows was recognized as one of the Ten Views of the West Lake in the Southern Song Dynasty, but began to be neglected from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) on. The park came back to life again 1950s by a series of refurbishing projects. Today, the park covers an area of 21 hectares, with luxuriant trees surviving the past dynasties along the winding bank. Vast lawns stretch, flowers are bright, pavilions reveal their ancient romantic style, birds flap by and grasses show their best greens. 

Orioles Singing in the Willows

Three Pools Mirroring the Moon

The largest isle in the West Lake, It is also called the Lesser Yingzhou Isle, the namesake after a legendary Islet in the depth of the Eastern China Sea. The isle is elegant, harmonizing nature and man-made landscape. The isle is one of the top ten Westlake Scenic attractions for centuries.
The beauty of the scenic spot is the moon in the sky, in the water and in the heart of onlookers. The three stone miniature pagodas standing in the lake off the isle are presumably the best place for moon viewing. These pagodas produce many magic views of the moon in the water, making people nostalgic and reminiscent of the woebegone days and happy moments in the past. On the night of the Autumn Moon Festival, the isle and its three miniature pagodas are the best attraction for moon spectators.

Three Pools Mirroring the Moon

Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake

Though the Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake refers nowadays to a fixed location and one of the top ten attractions around the West Lake, it was in the South Song Dynasty a general reference to the autumn nights when people went boating on the lake appreciating the bright moon and enjoying the cool breeze.

 Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake 

Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge

Once in a fine day after a snowfall, standing on the bridge and looking toward the northwest at the Solitary Hill and Ge Hill, one can see the hills and buildings covered with snow and the lake and hills look crystal clear. Although the snowy beauty of the scenery is a little bit chilly and lonely, many people regard it better than noisy greens and reds in other seasons and they believe the Broken Bridge fully deserves the top position it has enjoyed for hundreds of years as the best one of the Ten Westlake Scenic Spots.

Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Hill

Evening Bell Ringing at Nanpinjg Hill, it is one of the “Ten Views of West Lake” with the longest history. In 972 A.D. a famous temple, named as “Xingjiao Temple”was built on the Nanpin Hill. After that, a few more small temples were built around it. Therefore, Nanpin Hill was locally called as “Buddhism Kingdom Hill”. Formed of limestone, the Nanping Hill contains lots of caves and cavities. The shape of the hill is just like a painted screen. Therefore, when the bell was rung in the evening, its sonorous sound echoed through the caves and cavities, even reached as far as the other shore of the West Lake. And then the Ge Hill locating there sent back a big echo over the lake.

Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow

Leifeng Pagoda, on the Evening Glow Hill situated on the south shore of the West Lake, was erected in celebration of the son his favorite concubine, Huang Fei, gave birth to. The 7 storied pagoda was a storied – pavilion – type structure, built of brick and wood. In the ancient time, Leifeng Pagoda and Baochu Pagoda stood far apart facing each other. Leifeng Pagoda appeared to be an old gentleman, but Baochu Pagoda appeared to be a beauty. When the sun was setting, the pagoda bathed in the evening glow looked radiantly beautiful. It was therefore named as “Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow”.

Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor

Flower Harbor (Huagang) Park is adjacent to Su Causeway consisting of Red Fish Pool, Peony Garden, Flower Garden, widespread lawns and woods, occupying an area of 21 hectares. Initially, the park was a small private garden built and owned by Lu Yunsheng, an imperial official of the South Song Dynasty. The garden was located near the Flower Home Hill. Inside the park was a fishpond and a stream nearby was ushered into the pond for raising goldfish. Later the private garden began to gain a big fame in Hangzhou as Flower Harbor and became a recreation resort for viewing goldfishes.

Twin Peaks Piercing the Cloud

Twin peaks are the Northern Peak and Southern Peak. One locates southwest to the West Lake and the other locates northwest west. Northern Peak is with an elevation of 256.9 meters, Southern Peak is with an elevation of 355 meters. The two peaks face each other at a distance of more than 5 kilometers. On a drizzly day in spring or autumn, visitors may find a spectacular view of the two peaks while they look up from the Hongchun Bridge. It seems as if an enchanting landscape painting was hanging before them with the peaks disappearing and appearing amidst drifting clouds. 

nine beautiful postures, which one you have used?

Sorry for the Hangzhou travel talk should be delay

last weekend, I had a plan looking around West Lake again,because I suddenly find that I should look Hangzhou like a traveler. But unfortunately, I went Shanghai last weekend, so i need more time....

I thought I have known Hangzhou very much, but actually I am not. maybe I know good taste restaurant around my life, but I do not know where to stay and what to eat around West Lake. When I went to the West Lake, I had never spent more than 5 hours because I have lot of time to travel again. But you guys are different, you need some lines can just through whole day and expect every minute in Hangzhou is delighted. At least, it is what I want.

what a surprise, i do find that there is a very worth travelling plan in shanghai, 200 ￥ for The Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower——Madame Tussauds——a boat night, the chip is fun and i think it's good.

Travelling Attention for Girls in Hangzhou (2)

1. Safety is the most important thing. Though Hangzhou is quite safe, nothing is absolute in the world. Near West Lake, there is a bar street. One night we walked around West Lake at night after enjoying the music fountain. There were lots of drunks and policemen and the taxi driver (taxi in Hangzhou is very convenient and 11￥/ 3 km) told us that he didn’t come this street often because he had to clean his car after delivering some drunkards.

2. Backpack is perfect, because: 1, you need bring water (I am pretty sure you will thirsty soon) and umbrella (you can’t predict weather correctly), that means your bag is heavy; 2. Shoulder bags are easier robbed and got lost when you busy and It is best if you put your backpack before. Tips: choose a beautiful one, then you do not have to take it off when taking pictures.

3. Have a positive attitude, don’t complain the arrangement and pictures taken by your friends which are not very pretty. A planned arrangement is not very easy, make an ideal distribution. Someone can charge food, someone can charge route, you will have a great time.

4. Learn compromise. Even twins, there are differences. Enjoy different food, different scenic spots, see Hangzhou from different cultural insights. I am pretty sure you will have a lot of fun.



5. If you are a little group, put part of your money together for paying your food or transport. I don’t know If you like hamburger or not, in Hangzhou, you must taste some delicious and you have to pay it together. Also, the transport, the bus is everywhere but a taxi is cheaper and fast if you have 4 people or a number of times of 4.

Travelling Attention for Girls in Hangzhou (1)

When you arrived at Hangzhou, you will find it’s a beautiful city. There are many places to play, maybe you will want spend more time staying here. Here are some tips for girls’ travelling, more preparation more fun.

1.     Girls love beautiful dress, but beauty is not enough. Most places in Hangzhou is idyllic, a long light dress is the best choice. Don’t choose dark dresses or short T-shirts because the West Lake is always bright and lovely. Bring more scarves, scarfs or accessories with you, they are less weight and change your style for taking pictures. Bring an extra coat even in summer, you will feel cold in the long rainy days.

2.     Pick comfortable shoes, though the taxis and bikes throughout whole city, walking is the best way enjoying scenery. High heel shoes or platform shoes are very not suitable. Not only because West Lake is big, but also because Hangzhou subordinates hills and most sight spots are on the hills.

3.     Make a simple baggage, if you want stay at one hotel in the whole journey, you can pick more. Large baggage is a heavy load for girls, but there are something things you must take. A, sun cream: especially in summer, the temperature outside is not kidding, the West Lake is better because of the trees, but still very hot. B, umbrella, for sun, for rain, for the changeable weather. C, make up, bring small bottles.

4.   Bus card, map and information copy. If you want take a long trip in Hangzhou, bus card is            necessary and convenient. 20￥ for a D card, you can get it in most stores and turn it back          unbroken with 20￥back. Charging 200￥ you can rent bikes at special station, rent hour in        2h is totally free. That means when you over your trip and take your card back, you can get          220+your extra charging money.

As a Hangzhou girl, I heard “The Legend of The White Snake” when I was a child. I love the beautiful story but I don’t like West Lake when I was young. West Lake is a beautiful place, as I glow up, I find her beauty can’t be known in the tour, it needs a lot of time. It cost me 2 years to understand the inside of West Lake, and I still can’t express my feelings correctly.

 

As you saw, West Lake is big, but not that big. The lake area is 6.39 square kilometers, but the West Lake scenic area is 49 square kilometers (the green part in centre). West Lake is surround by mountains, not very high, but very fresh and beautiful. That’s why I said that in a little tour, you will never see all the scenery.

Actually, there is a place, very beautiful and suitable for a short trip. The scenery is amazing, the air is fresh, sweet-and-sour fish is delicious (it just need time to find it out). You may guess it already, it is Thousand-island Lake. The area may much bigger than West Lake (573 square kilometers), however, it is really a good place to take a short tour.

And I will introduce West Lake latter.